I'm not sure if I'm in the right place but I'm constantly interested in other peoples experiences of recovery and life after a subarachnoid haemorrage.

I had a non-aneurism SAH on new years eve 2017. There was no surgical intervention required thankfully, I spent about a week in hospital and was medically treated. So 15months on I'm still not back at work, I have daily dull headaches (more like pressure really) and if I do anything much more than just pottering around I get a worse headache and feel off balanced and wiped out. Is this normal and just 'the new me'?

Hi Kitty and welcome. I think you meant New Year's Eve 2016 ? But by referring to 'The new me' you're already getting the gist of brain injury and though 15/16 months might feel like an age, it can take even longer to get the hang of managing fatigue & other symptoms.

My SAH was 6 years ago and I'm coping pretty well ; the fatigue being the biggest problem. I also have a short emotional fuse, headaches, and damaged short term memory but life's better now than it was at the stage you're at. I think my 'plateau' was around the 3 year point.

I did ask for an MRI in 2016 as I was so fuzzy headed & dizzy, but it came back normal, and that particular symptom is apparently quite usual after any brain injury.

Thanks for your message. Yeah I suppose it was NYE 2016. It all becomes a fog.

You sound fairly similar to me. I struggle with fatigue mainly, but also feelings of dizzyness or rather feeling off balanced. I'm struggling to get back to work as my job is high stress 12 hour shifts and it's not looking like they can accomodate a couple of short shifts so may be medical retirement for me.

I had a subarachnoid haemorrhage nearly 5 years ago this month when I was 29. I spent 4 weeks in hospital and had to learn to walk again, among many other things. It takes a long time, even now after this long I still think I’m getting better and learning new things. The headaches, fatigue and foggy brain are the most difficult to overcome, but with time they all get less debilitating. The constant headache and tiredness becomes normal, but a new normal.

I went back to work after 3 months, I probably shouldn’t have. I couldn’t even walk to work but I tried every day until I could. On my good days I tried to do a little bit more than the day before, and my bad days I slept or rested. Before I had my SAH I was doing a job and studying part time, which I had to give up.

3 years ago I gave up my job to do a PhD, something I’ve always wanted to do, but didn’t think I’d be able to, especially after the SAH. I am now a few months away from completing it.

My husband had a SAH 5 years ago which was near fatal, he spent the first 8 weeks in an induced coma and then the next 18 months in hospital.

The SAH has changed him completely, he has problems with all daily living activities, he needs to have someone with him all the time to ensure he is safe, but I suppose the biggest problem he faces is the neuro fatigue which is totally debilitating. Completing the simplest task completely wipes him out Unfortunately not everyone understands this completely life changing effect and often think that he is lazy or just not applying himself which is more frustrating for me that I suppose it is for him as I deal with care workers etc.

Oh your poor husband, it sounds as though he's had a rough ride. I can certainly relate to the fatigue, it's so debilitating. It's just like the battery has drained and I've nothing left in me. It really is a life changing event.